Ian Bayliss '26, a double major in Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology, reflects on his time at Cornell before graduation.
What inspired you to choose archaeology as your major?
I entered Cornell undecided on my major, and my interest in archaeology began after a series of Late Bronze Age and Egyptology classes through the archaeology and NES departments. By sophomore year I found myself very interested in ancient Near Eastern archaeology and joined both the majors.
Was there a professor or class that influenced you?
I was most inspired by professors Chris and Lauren Monroe who, through their respective archaeology and biblical studies classes, got me fascinated with the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age world, especially Egyptological study. Chris Monroe's "Ancient Ships and Seafaring" class was the first archaeology class I took at Cornell, and definitely the hook that got me interested.
What accomplishment are you most proud of while at Cornell?
I am most proud of the work I was able to do in the HABLab with Professor Matt Velasco and Ph. D. Candidate Kate Bajorek.
What advice would you give to incoming archaeology majors?
Take many classes outside of your scope of expertise, and you'll find many more connections across cultures and disciplines than you could imagine.
